Key ejector



Jan- 3, 1967 R. w. BEI-:BE ETAL 3,295,343

KEY EJECTOR Filed Deo, I5, 1964 20 INVENTORS 'lill/ 'lllAy/f//l RODERICKW. BEEBE |40 THOMAS J. HUGHES IW FIG f \\V 6 www ATTO RNEYS UnitedStates Patent() 3,295,343 KEY EJECTQR Roderick W. Beebe, Huntington, andThomas J. Hughes, Hicksville, N.Y., assigner of one-third to Albert C.Nolte, Jr., New York, N.Y.

Filed Dec. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 415,685 4 Claims. (Cl. 70-388) Thisinvention relates to devices for extracting keys from locks or lock-typemechanisms.

Devices are known which will eject keys from lockssee, for example,Glubiak, 2,685,792. However, for simplicity of construction and ease ofmanufacture and operation, the present invention represents a noveldeparture in the state of the art.

The device of the invention is made 4of a resilient element easilycompressed as needed by the force required to insert the key into thelock mechanism. When that mechanism is released, that is, when the lockis opened, the key will be forced out of the lock by the spring actionof the material comprising the invention. Thus the key cannot be left inthe lock.

A few locks, such as the ignition `switch on some cars, will not a-llowthe key to be extracted from the mechanism until it is returned to itsoriginal insertion position. Only then will the key be ejected by thedevice of the invention; up to that time the resilient element will beheld in its compressed state by the interaction of the key surfaces andthe interior of the lock.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a device forejecting a key from its lock mechanism when the key action has beencompleted.

This and other objects and advantages of the invention will bec-omeapparent and the invention will be fully understood from the followingdescription and drawings in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the invention mounted upon `a surfacecontaining a keyhole and adjoining lock mechanism, with a key shownbefore insertion therein;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational View of the invention, the dominantfeatures residing in the full lines;

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the invention taken along the line'3--3 of FIG. 2, with a key shown engaged by the invention but before`insertion into the lock;

FIG. 4 is the same cross-section as shown in FIG. 3, but -with a keyinserted in the lock mechanism;

FIG. 5 is the same cross-section shown in FIG. 3 but with the key nowengaged in the lock and turnedl 90 degrees from its original position,showing also the concomitant movement of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section of the view of FIG. 3 showing analternate method of attaching the resilient portion of the invention toits stationary element.

Referring to the drawings in particular, a resilient hemispherical piece10 is held to a surface 12 by means of Ia circular mounting unit 14attached to surface 12 by screws 16, 18, and 22. Piece 10 is formed witha circular base 24 and four spokes 26, 28, 30 and 32 joined at the apex34 of hemisphere 10. The apex 34 contains a slot 36 large enough toaccept the shank 38 of key 40. It is to be noted that hemisphere 10,which is made of .plastic or any other suitable material, resilientenough to return to its former shape and position after being `subjectedto stress and released, is free to rotate in the mounting unit 14 sinceit has a circum- 3,295,343l Patented Jan.' 3, 1967 ferential ange 42which ts into a corresponding groove in unit 14, permitting annularmovement of hemisphere 10, if required, as the key 40 is turned in thelock 44.

In the alternate embodiment partially illustrated in FIG. 6, the springmeans 10a has a circumferential flange 42a which projects inwardlytoward the cooperating groove on the outer circumference of mountingunit 14a. This groove and ange is deep enough so that the pressurenecessary to force spring means 10a into its `compressed position willnot disengage flange 42a from its cooperating groove in unit 14a.

In the case of metallic dashboards or other like surfaces, it `would bepossible to dispense with screws and fasten the mounting unit to thosesurfaces by means of magnets imbedded around the periphery of the unit.Alternately, but in like manner, the whole mounting unit could be madeof magnetic or magnetized metal, or just i that portion in contact withthe metallic surface,

In either case, the mounting unit would perform the same function as itdoes in the illustrated embodiments-that lof maintaining the position ofthe resilient portion of the device in place over the keyhole.

It is also feasible to have these resilient elements constructed ofmaterials which phosphoresce, uoresce of luminesce, or can have suchqualities imparted (e.g., sprayed with fluorescent paint) to them.Either property would allow the user to nd lthe ignition switch orkeyhole in the dark with minimum diiiiculty..

It is to be noted that, in the event the key has no shoulder which willprovide la stop mechanism for the engagement of the key and the springmeans in the embodiment which requires such engagement in order torotate the spring means, the device will operate just as effectively bythe engagement of the spring means with the gripping portion or head ofthe key.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustratedand described, many modifications thereof will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention should not be limitedexcept as defined by the following claims.

What we claim is:

1. A key-extracting device in combination with a lock assembly,comprising a one piece resilient hemispherical member having a circularbase, a central portion spaced perpendicular from a plane through saidcircular base and parallel to said plane, said central portion having anon-circular aperture for insertion of .a key therethrough and forengaging said key so as to be rotatable therewith, said circular basehaving a flange, mounting means cooperating with said tiange to securesaid member to said lock assembly, and a plurality of spokes joiningsaid .circular base to said central portion, and wherein said keycooperating with the lock assembly is released from said lock assemblyby the spring 'action of said hemispherical member.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flange of saidhemispherical member is rotatably mounted 'within a cooperating groovein said mounting means, said groove being disposed around the peripheryof said lock assembly.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, `wherein said hemispherical memberis permanently mounted to said lock assembly, said key exerting anannular pressure against said hemispherical member when being rotated insaid lock assembly.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hemispherical member`consists substantially of a resilient plastic material Iso as to allowa spring action for ejecting said key from said key assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Glubiak 70-388Pavlinetz 1,51-21 Lillard 151-21 X Furn 70-414 Byrne 40-454 EDWARD C.ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Examiner.

10 P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

1. A KEY-EXTRACTING DEVICE IN COMBINATION WITH A LOCK ASSEMBLY,COMPRISING A ONE PIECE RESILIENT HEMISPHERICAL MEMBER HAVING A CIRCULARBASE, A CENTRAL PORTION SPACED PERPENDICULAR FROM A PLANE THROUGH SAIDCIRCULAR BASE AND PARALLEL TO SAID PLANE, SAID CENTRAL PORTION HAVING ANON-CIRCULAR APERTURE FOR INSERTION OF A KEY THERETHROUGH AND FORENGAGING SAID KEY SO AS TO BE ROTATABLE THEREWITH, SAID CIRCULAR BASEHAVING A FLANGE, MOUNTING MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID FLANGE TO SECURESAID MEMBER TO SAID LOCK ASSEMBLY, AND A PLURALITY OF SPOKES JOININGSAID CIRCULAR BASE TO SAID CENTRAL PORTION, AND WHEREIN SAID KEYCOOPERATING WITH THE LOCK ASSEMBLY IS RELEASED FROM SAID LOCK ASSEMBLYBY THE SPRING ACTION OF SAID HEMISPHERICAL MEMBER.